THE COTTONWOODS 336 



sheathing where it is protected, for box boards, cheap ve- 

 neers, fruit and vegetable crates, and the " Yellow Cotton- 

 wood " for flooring and cheap interior finish. It is seriously 

 affected by atmospheric changes, where not protected by 

 paint or varnish, as it readily imbibes moisture. It is being 

 planted in some sections for pulp wood, for which it is ad- 

 mirably adapted. It is claimed that, when growing on soil 

 adapted to it, it can be relied on to yield from three to five 

 cords of pulp wood per acre per annum, in from seven to 

 ten years after planting. It is not unusual for a tree to 

 grow to a height of forty-five or fifty feet, with a diameter 

 of twelve inches in ten years. 



Propagation is best effected by inserting cuttings in the 

 ground where the trees are to stand. This is preferable to 

 sowing seeds, for the reason that the cuttings can be taken 

 from trees bearing staminate flowers, thus avoiding the 

 nuisance of the cottony floats which fill the air .from trees 

 that bear the pistillate flowers ; although it is claimed that 

 trees grown from seed are longer-lived than when propagated 

 from cuttings. This is quite likely the case, but if the trees 

 are to be cut for pulp wood a long life is not essential. Its 

 habit of throwing out sprouts from its roots is very general, 

 although there appear to be two varieties and one is more 

 given to this than the other. Any mutilation of the roots 

 will cause either variety to sprout. In case a sprout does 

 not come up where a tree is wanted, but they are generally 

 numerous enough, a spade can be used to cut off the 

 roots where it is desirable for a tree to grow. The sprouts 

 will at first grow much faster than the cuttings, as the es- 

 tablished root system gives vigor to the sprout. A sprout 

 has been known to grow nine feet in height the first year 

 and a cutting seven feet. 



In propagating from cuttings it is best to secure strong, 

 healthy shoots of the previous year's growth, such as are 

 entirely free from branches, looking well to see that the 

 buds are well developed. The cuttings may be from three 

 fourths down to three eighths of an inch in diameter, and 



